Managing an election for 937 million voters

1 December 2021

With gratitude to the icons of freedom and the heroes of democracy, High Commissioner Jaideep Sarkar of India to South Africa opened a discussion on the “Story of World’s Largest Democracy’s Election”. At the hybrid event hosted by the Indian High Commission and the Indian Consulate in Johannesburg, the presentations by Shri Sushil Chandra, Chief Election Commissioner of India (ECI) and Shri Umesh Sinha, Secretary General, ECI, would have left many in awe of the extraordinary efforts of the ECI in delivering an election for its 937 million registered voters.

President Rajapaksa welcomes new Heads of Mission

1 December 2021

Heads of Mission for South Africa, Japan and Thailand recently presented their credentials to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the President’s House in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The new envoys, Mr Sandile Edwin Schalk, High Commissioner of South Africa; Mr. Hideaki Mizukoshi, Ambassador of Japan and Mr. Poj Harnpol, Ambassador of Thailand informed the President that they are committed to developing long-term relations between Sri Lanka and their countries in new spheres.

Max Sisulu receives Hungarian Honour

Ambassador Attila György Horváth of Hungary presenting the Hungarian States Merit Award to Max Sisulu

29 November 2021

Ambassador Attila György Horváth of Hungary to South Africa presented the Hungarian States Merit Award to Max Sisulu. The former speaker of the South African Parliament was the African National Congress (ANC) representative in Budapest during the Liberation war of Freedom from the abhorrent apartheid regime in South Africa.

Sisulu, an activist and struggle veteran, bore the brunt of the brutal regime at the age of 17 when he was arrested and detained. He is the son of Walter Sisulu, an ANC stalwart who was unjustly incarcerated on the notorious Robben Island Prison off the coast of Cape Town with iconic freedom fighters like Nelson Mandela, Govan Mbeki, Ahmed Kathrada, Dennis Goldberg and Andrew Mlangeni amongst others.

The Diplomacy of Korean Culture

25 November 2021

Ancient Korean culture, art and tradition may be the inspiration for its phenomenal development and success after a devastating war over ideology between 1950 and 1953. Efforts to resolve the separation to unite the North and South under one Korean nation are continuing. The Republic of Korea (ROK), South Korea as it is, with Seoul as its capital, is now ranked in the Top 10 most developed countries in the world.

The opening of the 33rd Korean Cultural Centre (KCC) right here in the city of Tshwane in South Africa is a clear indication of the strengthening of relations between the countries. “It is a place of happiness where different cultures can melt into each other,’” said Ambassador Chull-joo Park of Korea in his welcoming address at the opening of the KCC. This Centre is the largest and the most high end facility in Africa, he said. The other two are hosted in Egypt and Nigeria on the continent.

Planting trees to mitigate climate change

24 November 2021

The IFRC Southern Africa Cluster Delegation has officially launched the Pan African Tree Planting #IFRC10Million Initiative in the region. The Tree Planting Initiative aims to contribute to the protection, management, and restoration of forests while at the same time addressing the drivers of food insecurity in southern African Communities.

'We Are One Humanity'

His Beatitude, Theodoros ll, Pope and Patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Alexandria and All of Africa welcomed by Mr Antonis Mandritis, High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus to South Africa

25 November 2021

“It is a great honor to welcome you today, since the Throne of Saint Marcus represents the Orthodox Christian faith in Africa. Furthermore, it is well known that you support every effort to promote the peaceful coexistence of religions and cultures in the Middle East and Africa. Your Beatitude has always been a beacon of reconciliation and peace for the faithful in the Orthodox world and beyond.” It is with these words that Mr Antonis Mandritis, High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus to South Africa welcomed His Beatitude, Theodoros ll, Pope and Patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Alexandria and All of Africa to a luncheon held in his honour in Sandton, Johannesburg. This is the first event hosted by the newly accredited High Commissioner of Cyprus since his arrival in South Africa.

To see Egypt driving Agenda 2063: the Africa We Want is an inspiration to all of us: Dlamini Zuma

25 November 2021

Egypt's Ambassador to South Africa, H.E. Ahmed El Fadly, chaired a session during the Egyptian Day component the Intra-African Trade Fair IATF2021 that took place from the 15th to the 21st of this month in Durban, entitled “Egypt’s Role in Achieving Integration in Africa: The Africa We Want”, during which Egypt’s vision of how to achieve integration on the African continent through industry and trade was showcased. That vision put forth how African countries can move from a stage of poverty management to one wealth creation.

Stenin Photo Contest Winners Exhibited

Grand Prix winner - Sebnem Coskun from Turkey titled New danger to life below water: COVID-19 waste

24 November 2021

Every year young photojournalists around the globe have the opportunity to uncover their potential and showcase their skill by entering the Stenin International Press Photo Contest. The Contest was started by Rossiya Segodnya news agency in 2014 in honour of Andrei Stenin, a Russian photographer who was killed covering the civil war in Ukraine.

A Yunus Emre Exhibition

Pictured (l-r) Abdülaziz Yiğit, Director at the Yunus Emre Institute, Nazli Sahinoglu, Ndileka Mandela, Zunaida Moosa-Wadiwala, Ambassador Ayşegül Kandaş, Alex Maswanganyi, Tasneem Chilwan and Swati Mandela

24 November 2021

'The person who comes to the world
He passes and goes.
Drinks from it
It is a bridge crossing.
The ignorant do not know it.'

This poem by Yunus Emre and many of his other writings are on display at an exhibition at the Yunus Emre Institute in Johannesburg.

A Sustainable Future for Fashion

by Dilon Bhana

23 November 2021

On the 20^th of November, Rewoven in partnership with the Embassy of Sweden to South Africa hosted their annual event, the Future of Fashion Indaba, highlighting the importance of sustainability in fashion and the future of fashion. The event was set-up at the Black Brick Club in Sandton and was also streamed live on the Rewoven Africa YouTube channel.

The event brought about some thought-provoking conversation, including the sustainability in the African fashion industry in comparison to that of the rest of the world, mostly Europe, with the help of their erudite guest speakers. This event was perfect for anyone who has a passion for fashion and sustainability and a deep interest in seeing the part that Africa has to play in it all.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Bogdanov visits South Africa

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov with South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa

22 November 2021

Russia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for the Middle East and Africa, Mr Mikhail L. Bogdanov was on an official visit to South Africa. He had meetings with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, with officials of the Department of Trade and Industry as well as fruitful discussions with Deputy Minster of International Relations for South Africa Mr Alvin Botes. He also engaged Heads of Mission from the Middle East represented in South Africa.